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FAQ

What is the Federal school code for Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC)?
I probably don't qualify for financial aid. Should I apply anyway?
Does it cost anything to apply for financial aid?
Do I need to be accepted into a program before I can apply for financial aid?
How do I apply for grants and other financial aid?
I received an outside scholarship. Should I report it to the Financial Aid Office?
My parents did not claim me on their tax return. Am I required to provide their income and asset information on the FAFSA?
Am I an independent student?
My parents are separated or divorced. Which parent is responsible for filling out the FAFSA?
My parents are divorced, and the parent I'm living with has remarried. Does my step-parent have to report his or her income and assets on the FAFSA?
Should I mail copies of my tax forms to the Financial Aid Office?
What does "selected for verification" mean?
What is a SAR and what do I do with it?
What is an "Expected Family Contribution" or EFC?
What is cost of attendance?
I don't know if I will be a full time or part time student. Do I need to notify the Financial Aid Office after I register for classes to let them know my enrollment status?
How is financial need determined?
Do I have to fill out a new FAFSA every year?
Am I eligible for the same awards every year?
What will happen if I don't repay my student loans?
Do grants have to be paid back?
How much financial aid will I get?
Do I pick up my financial aid check at the Cashier's Office?
When will I get my financial aid?
Can I defer payment of my fees and tuition until my financial aid is received?
Do I have a financial aid deferment?
Are there any other options if I can't afford to pay for school when I register and I don't qualify to have my fees and tuition deferred?
Can I defer payment of my books?

What is the Federal school code for Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC)?
The Federal school code for CVTC is 005304.
I probably don't qualify for financial aid. Should I apply anyway?
Yes. Many families mistakenly think they don't qualify for financial aid and fail to apply. There are some sources of aid, such as unsubsidized Stafford and PLUS loans, that are available regardless of financial need.
Does it cost anything to apply for financial aid?
No. Filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is free of charge.
Do I need to be accepted into a program before I can apply for financial aid?
No. You can apply for financial aid prior to being accepted into a program; however, CVTC will not process a financial aid application until you have been accepted into a financial aid eligible program by the Admissions Department.
How do I apply for grants and other financial aid?
Submit a FAFSA. The application is available on-line at www.fafsa.ed.gov. You will automatically be considered for Federal and State grants. You can also indicate on the FAFSA if you are interested in being considered for work-study and/or student loans.
I received an outside scholarship. Should I report it to the Financial Aid Office?
Yes. If you are receiving any kind of outside resources, you must report them to the Financial Aid Office.
My parents did not claim me on their tax return. Am I required to provide their income and asset information on the FAFSA?
If you answered "yes" to any of the questions under Step 3 of the FAFSA, you are not required to provide parental information. If you answered "no" to all of the questions under Step 3 of the FAFSA, you must complete the parent section as well as the student section.
Am I an independent student?
An independent student, for financial aid purposes is defined by: Turn 24 by December of the school year, married, veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces, have children or dependents that receive more than one half of their support from you, or an orphan or ward of the court.
My parents are separated or divorced. Which parent is responsible for filling out the FAFSA?
If your parents are separated or divorced, the custodial parent is responsible for filling out the FAFSA. The custodial parent is the parent with whom you lived the most during the past twelve (12) months. Note that this is not necessarily the same as the parent who has legal custody. If you did not live with one parent more than the other, the parent who provided you with the most financial support should fill out the FAFSA. If you have not received any support from either parent during the past twleve (12) months, use the most recent calendar year for which you did receive some support from a parent or lived with either parent to determine which parent should fill out the FAFSA.
My parents are divorced, and the parent I'm living with has remarried. Does my step-parent have to report his or her income and assets on the FAFSA?
Yes, provided that the parent you are living with is the one filling out the FAFSA. If your step-parent is married to your parent at the time you fill out the FAFSA, their income and assets must be reported even if they weren't married to your parent the previous year.
Should I mail copies of my tax forms to the Financial Aid Office?
No, do not mail any tax information to our office unless you receive a written or verbal request from us to do so.
What does "selected for verification" mean?
Verification is the process of checking the accuracy of the information you provided when applying for federal student aid from the Department of Education. In the verification process, the Financial Aid Office compares information reported on the FAFSA application with your federal tax returns and other requested documentation. A student can be selected for verification in one of three ways: (1) through a random process established by the Department of Education (30% of applicants are routinely selected for verification); (2) by the Department of Education if there appears to be inconsistent or conflicting information reported on the FAFSA; or (3) by the school if there appears to be inconsistent or conflicting information reported on the FAFSA.
What is a SAR and what do I do with it?
SAR is short for "Student Aid Report". It is sent to you from the Department of Education after you complete your FAFSA application. It will identify problems you may have with your application. It is important to make sure the information on the SAR is accurate. If you included CVTC on your application, we will also receive a copy of your student aid report electronically. The SAR will list your "Expected Family Contribution" (EFC) as determined by the Federal Government.
What is an "Expected Family Contribution" or EFC?
The EFC is the amount the student and/or the student's family are expected to contribute toward the student's education. The EFC is determined by the Department of Education based on the information provided by the student on the FAFSA. The student and/or the student's family are not required to contribute this amount directly to the college. The Financial Aid Office will use this number to determine your eligibility for financial aid.
What is cost of attendance?
Cost of attendance (COA), also referred to as your financial aid budget, is a statewide estimate of what it will cost you to live and attend school for the terms you are enrolled in for the school year in Wisconsin. The COA is not what you will be required to pay the college. Included in the COA are costs for tuition and fees, books and supplies, room and board, personal items and transportation. The COA is also based on your enrollment status and whether or not you live with your parent(s).
I don't know if I will be a full time or part time student. Do I need to notify the Financial Aid Office after I register for classes to let them know my enrollment status?
No. Enrollment status is assumed to be full-time prior to the third Friday of the term. Enrollment statuses are automatically adjusted by financial aid staff. Your COA will be adjusted if you are not full-time when your first disbursement of loan or grant funds becomes available prior to the third Friday of the term. Enrollment status will be reviewed again after credits are locked the third Friday of the term. Your COA will be adjusted to that enrollment status if you are not full-time. This adjustment may change the amount of funds you are eligible to receive.
How is financial need determined?
Federal student aid programs are based on the principle that students (and their parent or spouse, if applicable) are considered the primary source of financial support for postsecondary education. Financial aid is intended to supplement, not replace family resources.

The formula for determining financial need is:

     Cost of Attendance (COA)
   - Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
   = Financial Need
- COA: Every college must estimate the educational expenses a student will incur during an academic year. These expenses include direct costs (tuition and fees) and related educational expenses (living, transportation, books, and other miscellaneous expenses).
- EFC: Determined from the information you listed on the FAFSA, it measures your family's financial strength to determine your eligibility for federal student aid.
- FINANCIAL NEED: This is the difference between the COA and EFC. If there is a remaining amount, you are considered to have financial need. If there is no remaining amount after your EFC has been subtracted from the COA, you may still be eligible for a Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan.
Do I have to fill out a new FAFSA every year?
Yes. As soon as the required Federal Tax Returns are prepared, fill out your FAFSA. The financial aid year begins with the summer term at CVTC and includes the fall term and following spring term.
Am I eligible for the same awards every year?
No. An award may increase or decrease from year to year. Various factors such as student and parent's incomes, number of family members in school, COA, etc., can all affect the amount of an award from year to year.
What will happen if I don't repay my student loans?
If you do not repay your loan according to the terms disclosed on your promissory note, you risk going into default on the loan. This default will affect your credit rating and may limit your ability to borrow for a car, home, or other purposes. You may be required to pay the entire amount of the loan, including interest immediately. Your wages may be withheld to pay your debt after the loan goes into claim status. You will be unable to get additional federal or state financial aid, including student loans. Your federal and state tax refunds may be withheld.
Do grants have to be paid back?
In a few cases you may have to repay all or part of a grant. If you register for classes and do not attend at least once by the end of the first week, you will be reported as a "NO SHOW" student in that class. If you are a "NO SHOW" student in all your classes or enough classes to change your enrollment status, you may have to repay all or part of your financial aid including grants. If you do not remain enrolled for more than sixty percent (60%) of the term, you may owe all or part of your grant. If you receive all 'F's for a term, you may owe all or part of your grant.
How much financial aid will I get?
The only way to determine how much financial aid you will receive is to fill out the FAFSA. Once we receive your electronic student aid report and documentation, we will process your award letter and mail it to you. The award letter lists the amount and types of financial aid funds for which you qualified.
Do I pick up my check at the Cashier's Office?
No. All financial aid balance checks (balance after payment of any tuition or fees owed to CVTC) are mailed to the student's current address on our system. It is your responsibility to keep your address current.
When will I get my financial aid?

The answer to this question varies for each type of funding and each student's specific situation.
- Funds are applied toward any unpaid balance first, which includes charges you may have on the Automatic Payment Plan (FACTS). If your credited aid exceeds your CVTC charges, the Business Office will mail you a balance check within fourteen (14) days of the applied credit. All balance checks are mailed to the student's current address on our system. If your charges exceed your aid, you must pay the balance.
- For students enrolled in one term, the disbursement is at the beginning of the term. For students enrolled in more than one term during the year, equal disbursements are made at the beginning of each term.
- Pell funds are applied to student accounts on July 1st for the summer term and balance checks are mailed within a few days. Pell and ACG funds are applied to student accounts the fifth week of the fall and spring terms and balance checks are mailed the fifth Friday of the fall and spring term. SEOG funds are applied to student accounts after the third Friday of the term.
- All ofther financial aid is credited to student accounts as received. Balance checks are mailed to students every Friday or Monday beginning the week before the term starts.
- You will be contacted by the Business Office regarding signing for any funding that we receive in the form of a paper check.
Can I defer payment of my fees and tuition until my financial aid is received?
Students may "defer" or delay payment of their tuition if they meet the following conditions:
- Received an award letter from the Financial Aid Office with sufficient funds to cover the entire cost of tuition; or
- CVTC electronically received a valid financial aid application record from the federal processing center and the student returned all requested documents to the CVTC Financial Aid Office;
- Maintained satisfactory academic progress; and
- Be enrolled in or accepted for enrollment in an eligible program leading to a technical diploma or associate degree.
Programs not eligible for financial aid deferments include: Dental Assistant, Nursing Assistant, Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Academy, Truck Driving, Farm Business and Production Management, Youth Options, or any short-term certificate program.

It is the student's responsibility to pay for books. Books are not deferrable to Financial Aid. They can be purchased using cash, check, credit card or the Automatic Payment Plan (FACTS).

If you are unable to defer your fees to Financial Aid, you may sign up for the Automatic Payment Plan (FACTS). The cost is $25.00 per semester. This plan allows you to divide your tuition, fees, and books into payments which are charged to a credit card or taken out of a bank account. For more information go to SIS or contact the Business Office at (715) 858-1802.
Do I have a financial aid deferment?
Are you wondering if you've been granted a financial aid deferment for your fees/tuition?

You can find the answer to this question on the Student Information System (SIS) one day after you register for classes by checking your financial aid messages on your student account.

To check your financial aid messages:
- Log onto MyCVTC
- Under "My Tools", click "SIS"
- Click "Student & Financial Aid"
- Click "Financial Aid"
- Click "My Overall Status of Financial Aid"
- Select the "2008-2009" year
- Click "Submit"
- Click "You Have Active Messages"
- If the "You Have Active Messages" does not appear, then you have not been granted a deferment.
To check your student account:
- Log onto MyCVTC
- Under "My Tools", click "SIS"
- Click "Student & Financial Aid"
- Click "Student Records"
- Click "Account Summary by Term"
- If, under the 2009 Spring Credit Term, you see an entry stating "FAID Tuition/Fees deferment granted", you have been granted a deferment.
Are there any other options if I can't afford to pay for school when I register and I don't qualify to have my fees and tuition deferred?
Yes. You may sign up for the Automatic Payment Plan (FACTS). The cost is $25.00 per semester. This plan allows you to divide your tuition, fees, and books into payments which are charged to a credit card or taken out of a bank account. For more information go to SIS or contact the Business Office at (715) 858-1802.
Can I defer payment of my books to financial aid?
No. It is the student's responsibility to pay for books. Books are not deferrable to Financial Aid. They can be purchased using cash, check, credit card or the Automatic Payment Plan (FACTS).